Communities For Healthy Forests

Learn more about the impact of Wildfire in our video series

Actively Engaging Our Community

See our survey measuring Oregonians’ opinions about how
to manage federal forests in Oregon to prevent severe fires.

For communities to thrive we believe restoration and rehabilitation of today’s Federal forests is critical. As repeated catastrophic fires wipe out these forests, wildlife habitat and watersheds are threatened. Much discussion revolves around the conservation of existing resources and fire management, however there is little action taken to rehabilitate and restore the balance needed in the forest to ensure we have forests in the future and to aide in the growth and vitality of healthy communities.

Communities for Healthy Forests was founded in 2001 to inform the public and policy makers with facts supporting the need to manage forest lands before catastrophic fire events devastate the landscape, and to change state and federal policies to all for the restoration of forest lands after fire. This non-profit was started by a group of leading citizens of Roseburg, Oregon, after they participated in a Chamber forestry tour and found that their surrounding federal forest lands which had been severely burned by forest fires were not being restored. They saw significant erosion, dead trees falling and boulders across roads. The worst part was fires in some parts burned these lands a second time causing more severe damage.

It was decided these forests should be restored to be enjoyed for future generations.

Communities for Healthy Forests represents rural communities. Our support and direction comes from many types of organizations with a variety of backgrounds. We are supported by unions, private business owners, banks, education, utilities, individuals, and community agencies. CHF is also funded through donations from local business, private individuals, utilities, tribes, and several counties, including Douglas County.

CHF - Policy

CHF advocates for sensible, balanced legislation with more local control. Science supports our philosophy and practices. The public wants the benefits of healthy forests. We believe we cannot have truly healthy communities without healthy forests to support them.

CHF 2

Forest management includes what happens before, during and after a fire. Correct management of forests can prevent future fire and build resilience in our forestlands

A healthy environment is necessary for healthy communities. Healthy communities produce healthier people. A lack of management leads to the loss of rural jobs. More state and federal legislators should be educated about how active forest management can benefit local communities.

fire 2

Communities for Healthy Forests wants to see more aggressive fire suppression efforts on our public lands. We advocate for developing partnerships between public and private landowners for maintenance on the ground before fires start.

education

Education isn’t just for kids in school. Lawmakers, local elected officials and the general public need to learn how we can strike an enlightened balance between extreme environmental and harvest/restoration practices. Education of the impact fire has on communities can start in the classroom, but more people need to understand the situation.

CHF wants to see support for policy changes to allow for suppression of fire before the burn, recovery of salvageable timber after fires and restoration through replanting after fires are out. Many people assume these practices are in place on federal forest lands. They are not. However, science and the best practices of private timber owners prove that restoration efforts lead to the benefit of all.